Can You Double Or Triple Your Internet Connection Speed Without Breaking the Bank?
Have you ever asked yourself how fast you can actually get your home internet connection to go? If you are part of the usual domestic group (especially in UK) you are likely to have an "up to" 23Mb/s advertised download bandwidth on the common 50:1 ratio.
The truth is that you will probably never have that.
Most will go around 5-6Mb/s and some better around 14-16Mb/s.
This is what you'd normally get if your telephony provider is running on BT's infrastructure.
If you try a Virgin 50MB/s advertised packaged you might get something better.
However their service is not as widely available and is priced differently.
Now, how would you feel about doubling that usual/average 14Mb/s (if you have ADSL 2+), or maybe even more than double? Obviously it will not come for free, but it doesn't have to cost you anything as much as a Leased Line would.
Well, in a simplified presentation, this is how it would work: a) You have an existing Broadband connection with the "X" ISP of 14Mb/s via a BT phone line b) You need to get a second telephone line or Cable connection.
In the past I remember BT would allow you to have an "incoming calls only" phone line for a lot less than a standard phone line.
No idea if that is any longer possible.
However, if you have the possibility, try first and see if you have a Cable option (eg.
Virgin).
Will explain later why.
c) Get a "Y" ISP connection via the second line or ideally the same "X" ISP if they already provide bonded ADSL (currently about 3 ISPs provide this option in UK) d) The 2 connections X + Y are bundled together and have a resulting "Z" connection which (Theoretically) sums the speed of the two.
I am saying theoretically because, if you add the second connection via a second BT phone line it will probably connect you to the same Exchange and you will not obtain quite the exact sum of the 2 connections.
ADSL connection are mostly provided in a 50:1 or 20:1 content ratio, which means that the same exchange connection could be shared with other simultaneous users.
In your case the 2 lines may be part of the same content ratio area/group.
That is why you'll get a better connection if in addition to your first DSL ISP you actually opt in for a cable one for the second ISP.
You will not be sharing the same infrastructure and you will be much more likely to get something like this: X + Y = Z (DSL + Cable) rather than X + Y < Z (DSL + DSL).
The advantage of bundling 2 ISP connections is not only the increased speed but it also provides an automatic backup connectivity.
In case one of the connection fails; the traffic will automatically be directed through the other one.
It is a popular choice for medium size businesses who cannot afford to take the risk of any connectivity downtime.
The actual process of bonding is not a very simple procedure and it is recommended that you contact a specialist before you consider boosting your connection using this method, more precisely, before you get to order the second telephone/cable line and ideally even before you get an internet connection over your first phone line (should you not have one already).
Bonding doesn't stop to just 2 lines.
You can add as many incoming connections as you want if money allows you.
It will still cost you less than the equivalent bandwidth via a leased line.
This option may not be available in all regions/countries, but it costs you nothing to contact a network specialist to analyse your particular circumstances.
The truth is that you will probably never have that.
Most will go around 5-6Mb/s and some better around 14-16Mb/s.
This is what you'd normally get if your telephony provider is running on BT's infrastructure.
If you try a Virgin 50MB/s advertised packaged you might get something better.
However their service is not as widely available and is priced differently.
Now, how would you feel about doubling that usual/average 14Mb/s (if you have ADSL 2+), or maybe even more than double? Obviously it will not come for free, but it doesn't have to cost you anything as much as a Leased Line would.
Well, in a simplified presentation, this is how it would work: a) You have an existing Broadband connection with the "X" ISP of 14Mb/s via a BT phone line b) You need to get a second telephone line or Cable connection.
In the past I remember BT would allow you to have an "incoming calls only" phone line for a lot less than a standard phone line.
No idea if that is any longer possible.
However, if you have the possibility, try first and see if you have a Cable option (eg.
Virgin).
Will explain later why.
c) Get a "Y" ISP connection via the second line or ideally the same "X" ISP if they already provide bonded ADSL (currently about 3 ISPs provide this option in UK) d) The 2 connections X + Y are bundled together and have a resulting "Z" connection which (Theoretically) sums the speed of the two.
I am saying theoretically because, if you add the second connection via a second BT phone line it will probably connect you to the same Exchange and you will not obtain quite the exact sum of the 2 connections.
ADSL connection are mostly provided in a 50:1 or 20:1 content ratio, which means that the same exchange connection could be shared with other simultaneous users.
In your case the 2 lines may be part of the same content ratio area/group.
That is why you'll get a better connection if in addition to your first DSL ISP you actually opt in for a cable one for the second ISP.
You will not be sharing the same infrastructure and you will be much more likely to get something like this: X + Y = Z (DSL + Cable) rather than X + Y < Z (DSL + DSL).
The advantage of bundling 2 ISP connections is not only the increased speed but it also provides an automatic backup connectivity.
In case one of the connection fails; the traffic will automatically be directed through the other one.
It is a popular choice for medium size businesses who cannot afford to take the risk of any connectivity downtime.
The actual process of bonding is not a very simple procedure and it is recommended that you contact a specialist before you consider boosting your connection using this method, more precisely, before you get to order the second telephone/cable line and ideally even before you get an internet connection over your first phone line (should you not have one already).
Bonding doesn't stop to just 2 lines.
You can add as many incoming connections as you want if money allows you.
It will still cost you less than the equivalent bandwidth via a leased line.
This option may not be available in all regions/countries, but it costs you nothing to contact a network specialist to analyse your particular circumstances.
Source...